Potentiometer

ABSTRACT

A potentiometer, consisting of a general cylindrical shape, on the lateral surface of which it has two parallel projections, so that the lateral terminals are located with respect to said projections, the elements it comprises (slider-holder, slider, resistant track and collector) being located inside the frame. The slider-holder is guided in the frame by setting a cut.Iadd., or depression .Iaddend.wherein there is a projection against which a projection of the slider-holder will butt, which has a new angular projection on which there are two pivots which will set into both holes of the slider for the fixing in-between. The slider is provided with two oval segments in an inclined position which will contact the resistant track. The slider and the collector are fixed to the slider-holder on some cuts provided therein. The slider is provided with two projections for contacting the collector, the latter having a circular crown shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The following invention, as expressed by the title of the presentspecification, consists of a potentiometer used for adjusting the valueof the electric resistance of a circuit, displaying noticeableadvantages with respect to the conventional ones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improvements carried out in the potentiometer object of the presentspecification are mainly based on the structure thereof, with which theinner location of its constituting elements, as well as theinterconnection existing between elements and structure, vary.

The potentiometer comprises a generally cylindrical frame provided atthe lateral surface thereof with a projection initiating with respect toan almost diametrical chord, said projection comprising lateral inwardsteps, the outer surface of which coincides with the end of a tonguehaving a circular .[.crow-shaped.]. .Iadd.crown-shaped.Iaddend.projection, provided at the base. Laterally to said tongue thebase comprises two pair of radial holes for fixing the lateral terminalswhich will extend by said frame steps.

The slider-holder is introduced into the frame and guided when it setsinto a circular inlet. Likewise, the frame has a projection into whichthe slider-holder will run, thereby working as a rotation butt end.

The slider has a general shape of circular crown, according to a groundview, and is provided with two curve sections, the ends of which contactthe crown by the resistant face thereof, thereby travelling along itaccording to a pre-established rotation angle.

In order to complete the hereinafter description and to help to a bettercomprehension of the characteristics thereof, the present specificationhas an attached set of planes in the figures of which the following hasbeen represented:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. It shows a ground view of the potentiometer according to thespecification, wherein the lateral terminals thereto fixed can be seen.

FIG. 2. It shows a sectional view of the above figure according to thediametrical axis A--A, wherein the crown, the slider-holder, the sliderand the collector can be seen.

FIG. 3. It shows a sectional view of FIG. 1, according to thediametrical axis B--B, wherein it can be seen how the slider contactsthe resistant track located at the frame.

FIG. 4. It shows a ground view of the base of the potentiometer frame,wherein the circular crown-shaped projection, with the radial extensioncan be seen, as well as the holes wherein the lateral terminals set.

FIG. 5. It shows an elevational view of the potentiometer frame, withthe projection of its base, as well as the cuts of the lateral surfacethereof, in correspondence with the open base and the these ones in anumber of four, orthogonally facing two to two.

FIG. 6. It shows a ground view of the frame by the inner face of thebase, showing the cuts on the lateral surface thereof being locatedorthogonally two to two, as well as the circular cut with the projectionfor the butt end of the slider in the run thereof.

FIG. 7. It shows a sectional view according to the cut made by thediametrical axis C--C of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8. It shows a sectional view according to the cut D--D of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9. It shows a ground view of the slider-holder.

FIG. 10. It shows a ground view of the slider-holder of the previousfigure, rotated 180°.

FIG. 11. It shows a sectional view according to the cut made by the E-Fof FIG. 9.

FIG. 12. It shows a ground view of the plane slider, so that the zonecorresponding to the elements that will contact the resistant track ofthe crown have an oval shape.

FIG. 13. It shows a lateral elevational view of the slider, wherein theelements that will contact the resistant track have been duly bent.

FIG. 14. It shows a view of the collecting terminal constituting theclosure of the frame of the potentiometer.

FIG. 15. It shows an elevational view of the collecting terminal,wherein it can be seen how the true terminal has a curve transversalsection.

FIG. 16. It shows a sectional view of the terminal of FIG. 14, accordingto the G-H.

FIG. 17. It shows a developmental view of the collecting terminal ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 18. It shows a view of the lateral terminal that is fixed to theframe by means of holes at the base thereof.

FIG. 19. It shows a sectional view of the terminal of FIG. 18, accordingto the cut made by J-K in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20. It shows a view of the lateral terminal as represented in FIG.18, in the development thereof.

FIG. 21. It shows a view of the resistance and, specifically, of itsface with the resistant track.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the above figures and according to the adopted numeration, wecan see how the potentiometer 1 comprises the frame 2, inside which thenecessary elements for the perfect working thereof are located, saidframe having one of its bases free.

The frame 2 comprises two projections 3 at its lateral surface near oneof its ends, which form the step 4. The frame 2 base has a central hole5 perimetrically to which the projection 6 is defined, provided with anextension 7 with diverging sides, in the sense of the projections 3 ofthe lateral surface thereof. Likewise, on the base of the frame 2 thereare two pair of holes 9 and 10, wherein the lateral terminals 11 and 12will set.

The inner face of the frame 2 base is provided perimetrically theretowith a cut.Iadd., or depression .Iaddend.13, except at a 70 degree arch,wherein there is a projection 15 with respect to the base surface, saidcut 13 being provided at its free end and a bevelled cut 14. The lateralsurface of the frame 2 has, with respect to its free base, two pair ofcuts 16 and 17 orthogonally faced.

The slider-holder 18 will be located over the cut.Iadd., or depression.Iaddend.13 of the inner face of the frame 2 base, acting as a guide inits rotation, whilst the projection 15 will make the functions of thebutt end thereof, said slider-holder 18 being provided with theprojection 19 and the inlet 20. By means of this inlet, one will be ableto work thereon, and, due to the arrow shape thereof, it will indicated,likewise, the position of the slider. The slider-holder 18 defines theprojecting plane 21 and it has thereon an angular extension 22 forpositioning the slider; this extension has its ends 23 bevelled.

Likewise, the slider-holder 18 has a circular crown-shaped portion 24with a bevel-shaped inner face 25, and on the extension 22 it isprovided with some pivots 26 perimetrically to which the bevelled cuts27 have been performed.

The slider 28 is a metallic small plate comprising a circularly shapedportion 29, slightly greater than a 180 degree angle and the remainingportion having an oval shape and formed by two segments 30 and 31, whichwill bent by the base thereof thereby forming a circular body accordingto a ground view, with the oval segments thereof being convenientlyinclined. This slider 28 stands on the projection 21 of theslider-holder 18, so that the segments 30 and 31 contact the resistanttrack 41, both being connected by the pivots 26 which are located in theholes 32 of the slider, being rivetted, thereby restraining them fromseparating. Likewise, the slider 28 is provided with two projections 43which will contact the collector 33.

By its side, the collector 33 consists of a circular crown-shaped bodyprovided with an extension 34 forming a slight inclination, from whichthe curved transversal sectioned terminal 35 is configurated. Thecollector is provided, on the minor radius of the body thereof withcircular crown shape, a perimetrical projection 36 and, at the extension34, with a hole 44. Likewise, diametrically to the terminal, it isprovided with a projection 37.

The collector 33 is fixed to the slider-holder 18 because of the cuts 38thereof, wherein the former sets and engagement of perimetricalprojection 36 and neck part 50, the collector carrying out the functionsof potentiometer cover, being positioned in such a way that itsextensions 34 and 37 remain on the slots 17 of the potentiometer frame2.

The lateral terminals 11 and 12 are provided with small plates 45 bymeans of which they will be fixed to the pair of holes 9 and 10 of theframe 2, which terminals have a hole 39 and the true terminals 40, thesehaving a curve transversal section.

The resistant track 41 is on a face of an open circular crown-shapedbody, having at its inner part a projection 42 corresponding to theinlet 8 which has the projection 15 of the inner face of the frame 2base, so that the slider 28 will run the length of resistant trackbetween the sections X and Y represented in FIG. 21.

Summing up, the patent of invention on file should fall onto thefollowing claims:

I claim:
 1. A potentiometer comprising:(a) a frame having a circular crown-shaped depression on an inner face of a base portion; (b) a slider-holder being guided by said depression, said slider-holder having a lateral projection which will butt against a projection on said depression for limiting rotation of said slider-holder .Iadd.and a circular crown-shaped portion.Iaddend.; (c) a slider connected to an angular projection on said slider-holder by means of pivots, said slider having a circular shape encompassing slightly more than 180° of .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.circle, said slider comprising two oval segments; (d) a resistance track contacting said oval segments and bending said segments into a circular shape, said resistance track having a projection extending into a corresponding depression in said frame for restraining said track from rotating; and (e) a collector attached to said slider-holder, said slider having two projections for contacting said collector.Iadd.; wherein said collector comprises a circular crown-shaped body and is provided, on a minor radius of the body thereof with a circular crown shape and a perimetrical projection; and wherein said collector is fixed to said slider-holder by engagement of said perimetrical projection with a neck part formed on said circular crown-shaped portion of said slider-holder.Iaddend..
 2. A potentiometer according to claim 1 .[.wherein said collector has a circular crown shape and is joined to said slider-holder by a projection.]. , said collector further including two diametrically facing projections, one of said projections having a narrower width than another, said wider projection having a central extended hole for forming a terminal having a curved transverse section, said projections being held in corresponding slots in said frame.
 3. A potentiometer according to claim 1 wherein lateral radially extending terminals are connected to said frame by two plates introduced into said frame through two pair of symmetrical holes, said terminals being of a curved transverse section. 